We asked June intern, Michael Ennis, to share some advice for our future interns. Michael is a business and law graduate from University College Dublin.
Securing an internship in a competitive law firm is a commendable achievement. However, it’s crucial to make the most of your time in the firm and not squander the many opportunities you’ve been given. Prior to beginning your internship, three weeks may seem like plenty of time, but the clock winds pretty quickly once you’ve settled in. So here are some quick tips to help you make the most of your time here.
Show initiative
As your time in the firm progresses, you’ll find yourself with more opportunities to interact with those from your department and engage with important legal work. It’s essential that your colleagues know that you’re ready, willing and enthusiastic to handle these tasks, so don’t be afraid to reach out and offer a helping hand. If you feel like you’ve been thrown in the deep end, don’t panic! Your trainee buddy, associate and partner can always give you a hand. The library also offers extensive resources for any task you may be given. Don’t underestimate the value of the opportunity to contribute to high-profile cases, even if you feel a little out of your comfort zone.
Manage your time wisely
Balancing your time efficiently is an essential skill for a lawyer and there is no better time to develop this than your summer internship. Between project work, case studies and department work, you can find yourself getting pulled in a number of different directions. Setting deadlines and devoting periods of time to different tasks can really help you manage your workload and prevent things getting on top of you. If you’re still struggling, don’t be afraid to let your trainee buddy, associate or partner know, as they’re always happy to help.
Reach out to others
The first week of the internship is fantastic for getting to know your fellow interns through events like GoQuest, dinners and fortunately, we had the pleasure of attending the summer barbecue. However, with a rather large group of interns, it’s natural to feel some distance from those you haven’t had the chance to talk to yet. It’s important to reach out and interact with everyone in the intern group because if you’re fortunate enough, you could be working with them for quite a while. The cafe offers the perfect place to chat with fellow interns and trainees.
Ask questions
It’s natural to feel a little overwhelmed as you settle into the internship with projects, case notes and departmental tasks to be working on. These matters, while stressful at the time, represent the perfect opportunity to showcase your legal writing skills and communication. After all, the hardest part was securing the internship. It’s important not to underestimate the value of these assignments and how much you can learn about life as a lawyer. Make sure to ask plenty of questions so you can truly understand the environment around you and immerse yourself in the culture of the firm.
Active listening
Throughout your time in Mason Hayes & Curran, there’s plenty of seminars, talks and even quizzes you can engage with. These events cover areas such as marketing, CSR and life as a trainee. There are an abundance of useful and interesting information available in these activities so make sure to listen intently and don’t be afraid to ask any questions you might have. If a certain event especially appeals to you, bring your notepad along to jot down points or details you want to remember. It’s also important to show genuine interest when engaging with your colleagues if you want to make some meaningful connections.
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